Victoria Police is targeting illegal e-bike, e-scooter, motor scooter, bicycle, and motorcycle riding offences as part of a new operation.
Food delivery riders on e-bikes, e-scooters, motor scooters, bicycles, and motorcycles are under increased scrutiny, as Victoria Police's ongoing "Operation Pathfinder" nets nearly 300 fines since June.
Earlier this month, police served 37 fines in only a few hours for riders travelling on a footpath, riding through a red light, and using a mobile phone while riding, taking the total to 289 at that point for dangerous behaviour.
While first offences are often given warnings as an “opportunity to educate the rider,” officers fined a rider for not wearing a helmet after the cyclist fled on foot and started a chase.
The offender is now expected to be charged with traffic offences, as well as resisting the police.
Operation Pathfinder began after reports of dangerous riding at peak times for food delivery increased, and Melbourne East Police Station identified hotspots, including Little Bourke Street, Bourke Street, and Flinders Street in the CBD.
Officers have been tasked with engaging with riders and other road users during the operation to educate them about relevant road rules to ensure they are equipped with the right information to conduct themselves safely on the road.
From January to June this year, there have been 29 collisions involving e-bikes in the city, and 18 involving motor scooters – twice as many as the second half of 2024.
Melbourne East Senior Sergeant, Tania Connolly, highlighted in a media statement the danger for other road users, especially during peak hour.
"Peak hour is often a busy time in the city, with lots of pedestrians and other road users around which presents a real risk to safety," Connolly said.
"It’s not only frustrating, but also incredibly dangerous to have e-bike riders zooming past pedestrians on the footpath, weaving in and out of traffic or disobeying traffic lights.
"We know more people are choosing options such as electric bikes and scooters to get around the city, and we want to make sure not only their devices are up to standard, but they are fully aware of the rules.
"We encourage everyone accessing roads and footpaths to have patience and make sure you are looking out for others."
The most common e-bike rider fines:
| Offence | Fine |
| A person over 12-years-old riding on a footpath | $198 |
| Drive on wrong side of divided road | $395 |
| Using a mobile phone while riding | $593 |
| Failing to obey traffic lights | $494 |
E-bike behaviour research
The findings, published through Monash University, found that only four per cent of delivery e-bikers were observed pedalling, and only three per cent were pedalling over 25km/h, suggesting most e-bikes are throttle-based and are therefore non-compliant with the law.
In one observation site, researchers found that up to 33 per cent of e-bikers rode on the footpath, 15 per cent of which were travelling in the opposite direction to others around them.
Ilana is a Melbourne-based journalist who was previously a copywriter in the Big Apple. Having moved to Melbourne for her Master of Journalism, she has written articles about food, farm machinery, fashion, and now the fast and furious. Her dream car has been a Mini Cooper since the fifth grade, eyeing its style and petite size.
